President Trump’s administration has created a list of no-nos for the CDC.
Officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, are now prohibited from using these words or phrases in any official documents being prepared for the 2018 budget: “diversity,” “fetus,” “transgender,” “vulnerable,” “entitlement,” “science-based” and “evidence-based.”
Policy analysts at the CDC were presented with the list of banned words during a 90-minute briefing on Thursday, according to The Washington Post.
The group was given alternative options in some cases. Instead of saying “evidence-based” or “science-based,” an analyst was write, “CDC bases its recommendations on science in consideration with community standards and wishes,” a source told the Post. However, those charged with penning official documents about the Zika virus’ effect on developing fetuses are going to have a harder time coming up “acceptable” ways of saying, well, “fetus.”
A longtime CDC analyst who spoke to the Post about the prohibition said the room’s reaction was “incredulous.” “It was very much, ‘Are you serious? Are you kidding?’”
Matt Lloyd, a Health and Human Services spokesman, rebuffed the Post’s story in a statement to CNN, saying: “The assertion that HHS has ‘banned words’ is a complete mischaracterization of discussions regarding the budget formulation process, HHS will continue to use the best scientific evidence available to improve the health of all Americans. HHS also strongly encourages the use of outcome and evidence data in program evaluations and budget decisions.”
“Our subject matter experts will not lay down quietly,” the CDC source told the Post. “This hasn’t trickled down to them yet.”
The Trump administration is prohibiting CDC officials from using these words or phrases in any official documents being prepared for next year’s budget:
“vulnerable”
“entitlement”
“diversity”
“transgender”
“fetus”
“evidence-based”
“science-based”https://t.co/lzOg4tvtUC— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) December 16, 2017